Rep. Dave Pinto

Maddy summaryHF 3193 allows Minnesota municipalities to halt tax increment financing (TIF) payments to developers, contractors, or subcontractors who violate state or local labor laws. The bill requires municipalities to hold a public hearing with prior notice before stopping payments, including specific details about the alleged violation. Developers or contractors affected can challenge the decision in court within 30 days, with courts required to rule in their favor if proper procedures weren't followed or no violation occurred. This policy directly affects development projects using TIF funding and aims to enforce labor law compliance through financial consequences.

Maddy summaryHF 3164 establishes a Minnesota state program providing $10,000 relocation grants to veterans who were involuntarily terminated from federal jobs on or after January 20, 2025, and establish Minnesota residency before January 1, 2027, while beginning at least 20 hours/week of work in the state before that date. The program, funded by a $6 million appropriation from the workforce development fund for fiscal year 2026 (including $50,000 for outreach), requires applicants to apply through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The commissioner must report on the program’s implementation to legislative committees by March 1, 2027. This policy directly supports eligible veterans transitioning to Minnesota employment and aims to strengthen the state’s workforce.

Maddy summaryHF 2440 appropriates $181.87 million for Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development for fiscal years 2026-2027. It allocates specific funds including $350,000 annually for the energy transition office, $500,000 for small business development centers, and $2.725 million for small business assistance partnerships. The bill also provides $1.5 million yearly for child care provider grants, with 50% directed to communities outside the seven-county metro area. These funds support workforce development, business growth, and economic initiatives across Minnesota, directly affecting state agencies and local communities. The bill primarily serves as a budget measure for existing programs rather than creating new policy.

Maddy summaryHF 1383 establishes the "Great Start Affordability Scholarship" program to help low-to-moderate income families pay for child care. It directly affects families with children from birth to kindergarten entry who earn under 150% of Minnesota's median income. The bill requires the program to limit child care costs to no more than 7% of a family's annual income, transitions existing child care assistance into this new system by July 2028, and mandates participating child care providers to meet quality standards through Minnesota's rating system. Families must renew scholarships annually, and providers must use scholarship funds to supplement, not replace, existing federal funding.

Maddy summaryHF 1671 updates Minnesota labor laws by prohibiting employers from paying workers with disabilities less than the state's minimum wage after specific dates (August 1, 2026 for new hires, August 1, 2028 for existing employees), regardless of federal "special certificate" status. It also establishes detailed requirements for internet-based continuing education courses, mandating security protocols, interactivity standards, and specific technical features like encryption and identity verification. These changes directly affect employers hiring people with disabilities and training providers offering online courses for professions like manufactured home installers and elevator constructors. The bill modifies existing statutes (177.24, 177.27, 326B.0981, etc.) and repeals outdated sections.

Maddy summaryHF 2980 modifies definitions for "park zone," "school zone," and "public housing zone" in Minnesota law, reducing the surrounding distance from 300 feet to 100 feet (or one city block, whichever is greater). The bill directly affects how these zones are defined for enforcement of laws, including those related to controlled substances. It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 152.01, by updating subdivisions 12a (park zone), 14a (school zone), and 19 (public housing zone). The changes clarify the boundaries of these zones where certain legal restrictions apply. Note: The bill's title mentions "controlled substances," but the actual content modifies zone definitions, not substance-related provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 3153 appropriates $10 million from state bond proceeds to fund the construction of marina buildings, trails, access roads, and site improvements at Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul for the Mississippi River Learning Center project. The city of St. Paul will receive this grant through the Metropolitan Council to advance the project, which includes site preparation and marina amenities. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $10 million in bonds to cover this funding, following Minnesota's bond issuance procedures. This appropriation supplements prior funding authorized in 2023.

Maddy summaryHF 1914 appropriates state funds for three key human services programs in Minnesota. It provides emergency services grants for immediate crisis support, county grants to address homelessness gaps (prioritizing Tribal Nation partnerships and interventions like 24/7 shelters), and funding for provider capacity-building collaboratives. The capacity-building program helps service providers access stable funding streams, including Medicaid waivers and housing support programs. These funds are allocated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with unspent first-year money rolling over to the second year. The bill directly affects counties, service providers, and people experiencing homelessness by expanding access to crisis support and housing-focused services.

Maddy summaryHF 2781 amends Minnesota law to clarify the definition of "custodian" specifically for orders of protection involving minor children. The bill updates the definition to explicitly include any person with physical or legal custody under court order (per section 257.541) or court-ordered parenting time. This change ensures that individuals with established legal custody rights, not just temporary caregivers, are properly recognized when courts issue protection orders. The bill directly affects domestic violence cases where minor children are involved and courts must address custody arrangements within protection orders. It is a technical clarification to improve accuracy in legal proceedings, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHF 3074 creates legal rights for transportation network company (TNC) drivers in Minnesota to form and join labor organizations for collective bargaining. It directly affects "active drivers" who completed at least the median number of rides in the most recent two quarters, as defined by the bill. The law establishes a certification process where drivers can designate an exclusive representative (like a union) through the Bureau of Mediation Services, while prohibiting TNCs from controlling or dominating driver representation groups ("company unions"). Drivers gain the right to negotiate terms and conditions of work, including grievance procedures, with TNCs, and the bill defines "lockout" to prevent TNCs from restricting driver access to the platform during disputes.